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This is a great opportunity for people who are wondering how to use their miles or who have sudden time off. You may also discover new charms of Japan by visiting places you've always been interested in or areas you've never been to before.
In this article, we will explain the services offered by Dokokani Miles, how to use them, and points to note, as well as suggest recommended travel styles.
What is "Somewhere Miles"?
"Somewhere Miles" is a reward ticket service launched by JAL in 2016.
As the name suggests, the purpose of this offer is to use miles to travel "somewhere," and the destination will be chosen at random from four possible locations proposed by JAL, adding an element of fun.
The main features of "Somewhere in Miles" are
- Great value: redeem 7,000 miles for a flight ticket
- The destination will be chosen randomly from four possible locations.
- Departure and arrival airports are Tokyo (Haneda), Osaka (Itami, Kansai), Fukuoka, and Sapporo (New Chitose, Okadama) only.
*Excluding islands in the south (Naha and Kagoshima)
Normally, you need 8,000 to 20,000 miles (basic miles) to reserve a domestic flight award ticket. However, if you use your miles somewhere, you can apply for an award ticket from Hokkaido in the north to Okinawa in the south for just 7,000 miles round trip. JAL will inform you of the destination by email within 3 days of application.
The routes covered by this offer include all direct JAL Group flights departing from and arriving at six airports: Tokyo (Haneda), Osaka (Itami and Kansai), Fukuoka, and Sapporo (New Chitose and Okadama).
We will explain more about the "Somewhere Miles Southern Island - Departing from Naha/Kagoshima" flight, which departs and arrives at Naha and Kagoshima airports, later.
The destinations that can be reached from each airport are as follows:
<Possible destinations for Dokokani Miles> *As of February 2024
| Departure and return points | destination |
|---|---|
| Departing from and arriving at New Chitose Airport | Hokkaido: Memanbetsu Tohoku: Aomori, Hanamaki, Sendai Hokuriku/Chubu: Niigata, Chubu Kanto: Haneda Kansai: Itami, Kansai Chugoku and Shikoku: Izumo, Hiroshima, Tokushima Kyushu: Fukuoka |
| Departing and arriving at Okadama | Hokkaido: Rishiri, Memanbetsu, Nemuro Nakashibetsu, Kushiro, Okushiri, Hakodate Tohoku: Misawa, Akita |
| Departing from and arriving at Haneda | Hokkaido: New Chitose, Memanbetsu, Asahikawa, Kushiro, Obihiro, Hakodate Tohoku: Aomori, Misawa, Akita, Yamagata Hokuriku/Chubu: Komatsu, Chubu Kansai: Itami, Nanki Shirahama Chugoku and Shikoku: Okayama, Izumo, Hiroshima, Yamaguchi Ube, Tokushima, Takamatsu, Kochi, Matsuyama Kyushu and Okinawa: Fukuoka, Kitakyushu, Oita, Nagasaki, Kumamoto, Miyazaki, Kagoshima, Amami Oshima, Naha, Miyako, Ishigaki |
| Departing from Itami | Hokkaido: New Chitose, Hakodate Tohoku: Aomori, Misawa, Akita, Hanamaki, Yamagata, Sendai Kanto: Narita, Haneda Central: Niigata Chugoku and Shikoku: Tajima, Oki, Izumo, Matsuyama Kyushu and Okinawa: Fukuoka, Oita, Nagasaki, Kumamoto, Miyazaki, Kagoshima, Tanegashima, Yakushima, Amami Oshima, Naha |
| Kansai | Hokkaido: New Chitose Kanto: Haneda Okinawa: Naha, Ishigaki |
| Departing from Fukuoka | Hokkaido: New Chitose Tohoku: Hanamaki, Sendai Kanto: Narita, Haneda Kansai: Itami Chugoku and Shikoku: Izumo, Tokushima, Kochi, Matsuyama Kyushu and Okinawa: Miyazaki, Kagoshima, Yakushima, Amami Oshima, Naha |
The biggest difference from regular airline ticket bookings is that you can leave it up to JAL to decide where your miles will go.
You can apply for Dokokani Miles on the JAL website. When you specify the date, time, and departure and arrival airports of your round-trip itinerary, a combination of four possible destinations will be suggested. One of these destinations will be selected at random.
Not being able to decide your destination yourself gives you the sense of surprise of not knowing where you'll end up, and it's also fun to travel to places you've never been before.
In addition, a maximum of four people can apply at the same time, so it can also be used for traveling with family or friends.
In the case of family members (within the second degree of kinship), the applicant can exchange the miles for all passengers at once. However, in the case of friends, each passenger must apply for an exchange individually, so the service cannot be used unless all applicants have miles.
It's easy! How to use your miles
You can make reservations for Dokokani Miles from one month before the boarding date, and your destination will be decided within three days of application. It's easy to use, so we'll explain it using the actual application screen.
<How to use Dokokani Miles>
- Open the application site
- Enter your JMB membership number and password to log in.
- Search by entering departure and arrival points, date, time, and number of people
- Check the four candidate locations displayed (multiple searches are possible)
- apply
- Enter your and your companions' travel information
- After confirming the application details and the number of miles to be deducted, check "Agree" and apply.
- Your reservation will be completed when you receive a destination confirmation email within 3 days of applying.
First, open the application site on the JAL Mileage Bank website and log in.
Once you have logged in, enter the departure and arrival airports, date, departure and arrival times, and number of people to search.
The search results will show four possible destinations randomly selected by JAL.
By clicking the "Area Information" button, you can view tourist information such as famous places and gourmet food for each spot, so you can check out the highlights of your favorite travel destination.
If you are satisfied with the four options displayed, you can apply, or search again if you would like to see other locations.
Once you have applied, you will need to enter the passenger information for all passengers.
After checking the application details and the number of miles to be deducted, check "Agree" and apply.
Once you move to the application completion screen, all you have to do is wait for your destination to be decided. Your application number will also be sent to you by email, so be sure to check it.
You will be notified of your destination via email within 3 days of applying.
Please note that the mileage deduction procedure will be completed at the time of application, and refunds will not be available even if you cancel after application.
How to use your miles somewhere! Enjoy new places and remote islands
Depending on how you use your Dokokani Miles, your travel options will expand. Here are three ways to use them to get the most out of your trip.
- Choose a local airport
- Examining the combination of candidate sites
- Plan to fly on a weekday
Choose a local airport
Potential destinations you can fly to using miles include airports with few flights.
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For example, there are regional airports in Hokkaido such as Obihiro, Kushiro, and Memanbetsu. When it comes to Hokkaido, the standard cities of New Chitose, Asahikawa, and Hakodate Airport are popular, but other areas also have a lot to offer.
In Memanbetsu, you can enjoy the spectacular views of the majestic Shiretoko Peninsula, one of Japan's most famous peninsulas, while in Obihiro, you can enjoy the local cuisine as Japan's agriculture and dairy farming are thriving. There are many ways to enjoy each region.
Because the destination is decided randomly, you can travel to places you've never been before and enjoy new experiences.
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In addition, Dokokani Miles is also currently running the "Dokokani Miles Southern Islands - Departing from Naha and Kagoshima" plan, which is only available to and from Naha and Kagoshima airports.
Somewhere in the miles of potential destinations in the South Island.
| Departure and return points | destination |
|---|---|
| Naha departure and arrival | Okinoerabu, Yoron, Minamidaito, Kitadaito, Kumejima, Miyako, Ishigaki, Yonaguni |
| Kagoshima departure and arrival | Tanegashima, Yakushima, Kikaijima, Amami Oshima, Tokunoshima, Okinoerabu, Yoron |
If you're thinking of visiting a remote island that you don't often have the chance to visit, be sure to give this a try.
Examining the combination of candidate sites
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"It's fine if the destination is decided randomly, but I'd like to go to places that interest me if possible." "I'd like to travel to areas I haven't been to yet."
To satisfy such people, the combination of possible destinations will change each time you search.
We recommend trying out different combinations until you find an airport that suits your needs, such as a destination you've always been interested in or an area you've never visited before.
However, please note that there is a daily limit to the number of searches you can make.
Plan to fly on a weekday
If you want to increase your options for destinations, we recommend choosing a weekday as your boarding date.
iStock/Shakeel Sha
Because there is a limited number of seats that can be reserved with miles and reservations open one month before the departure date, available slots may already be filled on holidays when there are many passengers.
Therefore, there may be cases where no matter how many times you search, the same destination options will only be displayed.
A variety of possible destinations will be suggested even on holidays, but if you want more options, try selecting a weekday when reservations are relatively easy to make, and you will have more destination options from the four options.
Dokokani Miles is recommended for these people
Somewhere Miles is recommended for the following people:
- I'm having trouble figuring out how to use my miles
- I want to enjoy smart, cost-effective travel
- I want to reduce the cost of traveling with my family
- I can't decide on a destination
- I have some sudden time off, so I want to go on a trip somewhere.
I'm having trouble figuring out how to use my miles
If you have accumulated miles but are having trouble finding a time to use them, or if your miles are about to expire, why not take the plunge and use them somewhere?
Also, if you want to exchange your miles for an award ticket but don't have enough miles to redeem a round-trip ticket, you can use this option with fewer miles.
iStock/SamSpicer
If you want to use your accumulated miles, we recommend a trip to a southern island resort. Why not escape from the everyday and spend some time relaxing on a remote island surrounded by nature?
Recommended travel plans
I want to enjoy smart, cost-effective travel
iStock/RossHelen
It's also perfect for people who want to enjoy the most cost-effective travel possible. With the money saved on airfare, you can expand the scope of how you spend your time, such as by enjoying the local cuisine and activities at your destination.
If you are traveling with friends, choosing an all-inclusive accommodation will allow you to enjoy a luxurious trip without worrying about money.
Recommended travel plans
I want to reduce the cost of traveling with my family
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Dokokani Miles allows you to reserve reward tickets for up to four people, making it perfect for family trips. Traveling with multiple people inevitably increases travel expenses, but the great benefit is that you can reduce those expenses with reward tickets. What's more, if you make reservations in advance on weekdays during periods such as spring and summer vacation, you can also arrange accommodation at a relatively low price.
Enjoy creating memories with your family at popular family resorts and theme parks.
Recommended travel plans
I can't decide on a destination
This is also perfect for people who want to travel but can't decide on a destination. Because you can leave the destination up to JAL, this trip will be full of new discoveries.
iStock/Satoshi-K
If you're having trouble deciding on an itinerary, why not use a sample itinerary that covers the highlights and latest spots as a reference, or ask locals for information that only they would know? Through someone's recommendations, you're sure to discover new charms and favorite things about the city.
Recommended travel plans
I suddenly have some time off, so I want to go on a trip somewhere.
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Many people plan their trips and book their flights several months in advance, but Dokokani Miles allows you to make reservations one month before the outbound flight. This makes it a great service for people who suddenly feel like traveling. For example, if you have time off in two weeks and want to go somewhere, Dokokani Miles will satisfy your sudden desire to travel at a great price.
You can take an active trip that includes all the places you want to visit, or you can take it easy and relax by staying in. Enjoy a carefree solo trip on any day and with any itinerary you like, without having to worry about anyone else.
Recommended travel plans
Things to check before using Dokokani Miles
Before you use your miles somewhere, there are five things you should keep in mind.
- The reservation period is set
- There are times when it is not available, such as peak season.
- Only 4 people can book at once
- Only standard seats can be reserved
- Only JMB members can board the plane
- No mileage refund if cancelled
The reservation period is set
You can use your miles to book somewhere between one month and five days before your outbound flight date.
For example, if you want to board on April 1st, you can make a reservation from March 1st, one month before, through March 27th, five days before the boarding date.
This means that it cannot be used for trips that depart more than a month in the future, or trips with less than five days until the outbound flight. It is recommended for those who have a sudden vacation rather than planning their trip in advance.
There are times when the service is unavailable, such as during peak periods.
Please note that there are some boarding dates that are not eligible. During busy periods such as consecutive holidays, it is best to check in advance whether reservations are available for the dates. Exclusion dates from July 2023 onwards will be announced on the official website from time to time, so be sure to check.
Also, because there is a limited number of seats that can be used as miles somewhere, if the reservation slots are filled up early, eligible airports may not appear as options even if it is not an excluded day.
Only 4 people can book at once
The maximum number of people that can be booked somewhere using miles is four.
If you have more than four family members or friends, you cannot use miles to book tickets for everyone somewhere.
If you want to fly with more than five people, book flights for four with miles somewhere, then purchase tickets for the rest separately or redeem regular award tickets.
Only standard seats can be reserved
All flights only allow reservations for standard seats, Class J and First Class reservations are not available.
However, if there are seats available on the day of departure, you can change your seat class. If you would like to change to Class J or First Class, please complete the procedure on the JAL website from 3 hours before the flight departure on the day of departure. *An additional fee will be charged.
Only JMB members can board the plane
If you want to use miles to travel on an award ticket somewhere, all passengers must be JMB members.
In order to use this service, not only must the person applying be a JMB member, but also the person traveling with them must be a JMB member. Also, you cannot apply if you do not have the required number of miles, so be sure to check in advance whether you have enough miles.
No mileage refund if cancelled
When you apply for Dokokan Miles, the mileage withdrawal procedure is completed at the same time. Therefore, even if you cancel, the miles will not be refunded.
However, please rest assured that if your booked flight is cancelled due to bad weather, natural disasters, etc., you will receive a refund.
If you cancel up to two days before departure, you can log in to the JAL website and cancel from the Miles page. If you want to cancel the day before or on the day of departure, you will need to contact us by phone.
summary
If you want to experience the thrill of a randomly selected travel destination, we recommend Dokokani Miles. Wonderful encounters and discoveries may be waiting for you at a destination you've never been to before.
You can book airline tickets at a discount using fewer miles than usual, so be sure to give it a try.
Miles somewhere
Somewhere Miles South Island -Departing from Naha, Kagoshima-
*Some content was updated on February 26, 2024.
Related article
Collect miles and get reward tickets! Why not use the money you saved on airfare to enjoy a luxurious trip with miles?
The contents published are accurate at the time of publication and are subject to change.
